Urtė Janus solo show “Flowing Bodies” at the underground water reservoir of Aukštaitijos Vandenys in Panevėžys

Urtė Janus is a London-based sculptor and interdisciplinary artist who explores the relationship between objects and the environment through installations, texts, and moving image. She plays with the dynamics of living and non-living matter, delves into the capitalist paradox of preservation and consumerism, and reflects on the changing state of the planet and the fragility of humanity.

In “Flowing Bodies”, Janus examined the interconnectedness, porosity, and permeability of matter through interactive sculptural installations incorporating local water. Copper, iron, and ceramic objects filled with liquid undergo natural chemical reactions during the exhibition, slowly transforming over time. Drawing on the history of the reservoir and chemical composition of the water, Janus reimagined this space as a conduit between living and non-living worlds. Water is a carrier of nutrients, microorganisms, minerals, and pollutants—moving through earth and life forms alike. In this way, Urtė Janus highlighted the temporality, fragility, and passage of time experienced by humanity and other living organisms.

Urtė Janus (b. 1991) studied photography and media, as well as art and ecology. Since 2022, she has been actively participating in exhibitions in both Lithuania and the United Kingdom. She is an alumna of the Alexander McQueen Sarabande Foundation residency. The artist has held three solo exhibitions and participated in six group exhibitions. In 2023, she created a site-specific installation “55MA” in the unique Anglican Chapel at Nunhead Cemetery in London. She was also the recipient of the JCDecaux Prize 2023: In Exchange for Eternities.

The exhibition was a part of (AV17) Gallery project which aims to present young Lithuanian interdisciplinary female artists and their works in non-traditional spaces. This August, the program also included “Low Frequency Memory”, a duo show by Roma Salė (Mikalauskytė) and Elena Laurinavičiūtė at Liepkalnis Water Reservoir in Vilnius. In September, a solo exhibition by Roma Salė (Mikalauskytė), “Alternative Narratives”, was on view at The Fourth Fort in Kaunas.

The (AV17) Gallery has been actively working in the field of contemporary art for fourteen years. It is one of the few galleries in Lithuania that focuses exclusively on sculpture and installation art. In addition to its regular exhibition program, the gallery initiates international and regional artistic and educational projects and runs exchange programs with both Lithuanian and foreign artists, thus promoting the dissemination of contemporary art in Lithuania and Europe.

Urtė Janus’ exhibition “Flowing Bodies” was on view until September 28th at the underground water reservoir of Aukštaitijos Vandenys in Panevėžys, Velžio g. 13.

The project was funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.